Description
Luscious Homemade Basil Pesto brings Italian sunshine to your plate, blending fresh herbs with rich parmesan and olive oil. Nutty, aromatic flavors dance across pasta or crusty bread, inviting you to savor each vibrant bite of culinary comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1 garlic clove
Liquid Ingredient:
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil
Seasoning:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Gently warm a skillet over moderate temperature, introducing pine nuts and carefully roasting until they develop a rich, amber hue, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
- Transfer the fragrant, golden-brown nuts into a food processor, introducing garlic cloves and pulverizing into a fine, aromatic mixture.
- Incorporate freshly grated parmesan cheese and vibrant basil leaves, drizzling approximately one-third of the olive oil while pulsing in short, controlled bursts to create a cohesive blend.
- Gradually introduce remaining olive oil, processing between incremental additions until the mixture reaches a smooth, velvety consistency that clings together elegantly.
- Delicately season the verdant sauce with salt and freshly cracked pepper, adjusting flavors to personal preference and creating a harmonious, balanced condiment.
- Transfer the luscious pesto into a sterile, airtight container, sealing and refrigerating to preserve its intense herbal notes and prevent oxidation.
Notes
- Toast pine nuts carefully to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent bitter burnt taste, watching them closely during the 3-4 minute process.
- Use fresh basil leaves at peak ripeness for maximum aromatic intensity, ensuring vibrant green color and robust herbal notes.
- Adjust olive oil gradually to control pesto’s texture, creating a smooth, spreadable consistency that coats pasta or vegetables perfectly.
- Store homemade pesto in an airtight container with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent oxidation and maintain fresh flavor for up to one week in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg